Whilst I'm sure he wouldn't begrudge other actors who came from a more comfortable background, the point here is a righteous one. The generation who benefitted from free education in the arts and music is leaving us and all the working class talent coming up behind them have found the ladder has been pulled up by successive governments who've cut funding to arts projects.

The arts industry makes millions for this country yet it's considered too expensive by politicians, who are now even privatising arts education, as I can testify with what has happened to my boys' music school.

While we mourn fantastic people who've enriched our lives with their brilliance, we should also save some of that passion to rage against those seeking to make them the last generation of working class artists able to make their voices heard.

A Labour stalwart and kind man with a good soul, he would think this a fitting tribute for him I'm sure.